Eastern Uganda campaign of 1979

Eastern Uganda campaign
Part of the Uganda–Tanzania War
Date 15 April – c. May 1979 Location Eastern Uganda Result Tanzanian-led victory Territorial changes Eastern Uganda mostly secured by Tanzania People's Defence Force Karamoja mostly left under Karamojong control
Belligerents
Tanzania Uganda National Liberation Front Uganda Army renegades Karamojong groups	Uganda
Commanders and leaders
Mwita Marwa Salim Hassan Boma Ben Msuya L.G. Sandys Dick Mwandetelle (WIA) Malinga	Unknown
Units involved
208th Brigade 7th Battalion 17th Battalion 18th Battalion 19th Battalion 24th Battalion	Eagle Colonel Gaddafi Battalion Eastern Brigade
Strength
4,000 UNLA: 1,000 Mbale defectors: 250	Unknown

The Eastern Uganda campaign of 1979 was a military operation by Tanzanian forces and allied Ugandan rebels, most importantly the Uganda National Liberation Army, against Uganda Army (UA) troops loyal to Idi Amin during the Uganda–Tanzania War. The operation was launched by the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) on 15 April 1979 to secure eastern Uganda and oust UA remnants which were still active in the area. The TPDF mainly targeted the important towns of Jinja, Mbale, Tororo, Soroti, and Moroto. It encountered only sporadic resistance, as most UA soldiers focused on fleeing with loot instead of resisting, and successfully secured most of eastern Uganda. In the northeast, the collapse of the Uganda Army resulted in local Karamojong groups seizing much weaponry which would result in long-lasting security issues.